Job Recruiting

Making Cover Letters Count

Posted in Cover Letters

Cover letters have become an important piece of document that most hiring managers now look for. A cover letter becomes a summary of a job applicant's own strengths and how it can be used for the good of the company. Some hiring managers even consider it as a critical document thought more highly than the job resume itself. That is why making effective cover letters the right way may help a lot in aiding job applicants get that job interview. Here are some tips on how to prepare a good cover letter.

Use Standard Business Letter Format

Formality is important when preparing a cover letter. The use of standard business letter format will make the cover letter appear more formal in the eyes of the hiring manager. It also pays to know the name of the cover letter recipient. This might require some persistent calls from the hiring company but it will sure help capture the attention of the person doing the hiring.

It is also important to note of any possible typographical errors on the cover letter. Make sure that you have the spelling of the name accurately. A wrong spelled name of the hiring manager may picture the job applicant as not good at details. Remember to address the salutation either as "Ms." Or "Mr." followed by the hiring manager's family name. Addressing them by their first names should be avoided except on cases when a prior engagement already may have helped establish a relationship between the hiring manager and the job applicant.

Opening Lines

When writing a cover letter, the opening sentence should already tell the reader the purpose of the letter. In should be interesting enough to make the hiring manager want to read on further. Capturing the attention is important when writing the opening sentence of the cover letter.

Highlight Knowledge Of The Company

Aside from writing down qualification and work experiences, it is also important to display your knowledge of the company and what their needs are. Try to highlight your accomplishments that may serve well for the company. Choose a key point or two to give hiring managers some ideas about your own capabilities that they may want to check further on your job resume.